Hands-Free PC Use

Details

Hands-Free PC Use
Adding Dragon 12’s speech recognition capabilities to the PC enables users to work virtually hands free when creating docu­ments, accessing data, or navigating their desktop. Dragon 12 provides a more efficient way to control a computer that is less physically and cognitively taxing than other alternative input methods.

Accommodations for Language and Speech Impairments
By taking away the mechanical aspects of typing or handwriting, Dragon 12 removes many of the challenges some people face when trying to intelligently express their thoughts in writing. In addition, as speech recog­nition has improved over the years, more and more students with articulation and pronunciation problems can use the software to complete daily tasks. Dragon 12 empowers users to create documents, send and manage email, search the Web or their desktop for information and resources, and make full use of popular Windows applications — all by voice.

Assistive Technology for the Visually Impaired
Dragon 12 offers speech output capabilities so that users can have text read aloud to them. The system works with most popular screen read­ers, such as JAWS, helping visually impaired users to work more effectively.

Prevention of Repetitive Stress Injuries
According to the former US Secretary of Labor, "Work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as back injuries and carpal tunnel are the most prevalent, most expensive, and most preventable workplace injuries in the country."  For users who suffer from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, Dragon 12 will change the way they interact with the PC, enabling them to be fully productive without aggravating their condition. For others, using Dragon can help prevent repetitive stress injuries in the first place.

Section 508 Certified
Because Dragon 12 is Section 508 certified, it can help organizations meet disability management requirements. It complies with the US government's standards for ensuring software applications are accessible to people with disabilities.

 

Testimonials

Jacalyn:
"As Director of Contracts at a software company, I create, review and; revise legal documents all day. I have tendonitis from repetitive motion (too much typing) so I use Dragon to dictate memos, emails, letters, notices, etc. and this saves me from the pain and strain typing puts on my hands. Not only that, Dragon is a great relief from eye strain as I can have my text dictated back to me after it is composed. This is particularly helpful when I receive a contract in PDF that has been revised without a redline document being provided. I can have Dragon read me the original as I visually compare it to the altered version to find and mark the revisions. This is a huge time savings and makes the auditing/
comparison process much less tedious. Our entire company uses instant messaging as its preferred means of communicating with coworkers in other offices, departments and in a dozen other countries around the world. I use Dragon to dictate my messages and don't even have to hit the enter key to send them. A simple "click Send" command is all it takes. The more my hands are off the keyboard, the less pain I have, both literally and figuratively."

Amy Blafer:
"Shortly after starting my dissertation, I found out that my son had dyslexia. He has spent the last two years learning to read, but he is still unable to get his ideas on to paper. Dragon has allowed his ideas to fly onto the page as fast as he can think them up. Dragon has turned his disability to an ability."

Laurie H:
"Programs like Dragon often come together as a solution for the larger population (i.e. business), but for the disability population, Dragon is not a luxury or a timesaver, it is truly a lifesaver/life enhancer."

A quadriplegic lawyer:
"Dragon NaturallySpeaking has meant much more to me than a just a tool, It has given me a pair of hands and a level of independence that only someone with a severe disability such as mine can appreciate."

Videos

Interactive Tutorial

• A new interactive tutorial in Dragon 12 guides you through fun exercises that demonstrate best practices for dictating, editing and formatting so that you can get up and running quickly.

Using Gmail & Hotmail

• Dragon 12 enhances the experience of using your voice with two of the most popular web-based email applications — Gmail and Hotmail. Learn how to use voice commands for the most frequent actions. 

Menu Options

• Dragon 12 menu options make it easy to find detailed information when you need it. From the DragonBar’s Help menu to the Sidebar, "Give me help" gets you help anytime. 

Read That

• Review your words by listening to a new, natural text to speech voice from Nuance in Dragon 12. Text to speech capabilities within Dragon deliver a synthesized voice that can read out loud text you designate – learn how. 

Smart Format Rules

• Dragon 12’s new Smart Format Rules allow Dragon to adapt by detecting your format corrections – abbreviations, numbers, and more — so your dictated text looks the way you want it to every time. Learn how.

Transcribe Your Recording

• Use a Nuance-approved digital voice recorder or compatible iOS device with our free Dragon Recorder app to record thoughts for later transcription to your PC. This video shows the transcription basics.   

Basic Editing

• Dragon 12 delivers up to a 20% improvement in out-of-box accuracy compared to Dragon 11. This video highlights how to use your voice to navigate within a document and edit or format the contents. Learn how.

Correction & Editing

• Dragon 12 includes more choices to make it quicker and easier to make a change. The Correction Menu suggests more alternate recognitions by default and when you do need to make a correction, Dragon learns, making it more accurate the more that you use it.

General Dictation

• Dragon quickly processes the recognition of speech in the background with a discreet indicator that recognition is in progress. This encourages continuous speech which enables Dragon to improve accuracy based on the context of each utterance. This video provides tips and best practices for general dictation.

 

Whitepapers

Dragon Solutions — RSI to ROI
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, musculo-skeletal disorders, including repetitive stress injuries, are one of the largest job-related injury and illness problems in the United States. This whitepaper examines how software such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional can be used by staff with MSDs – of any level of severity - to create documents, emails or spreadsheets entirely by voice.